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Academy11+

11+ English · Topic explained

Adjectives

How do you turn "a dog" into a dog you can really picture?

The big idea

An adjective describes a noun, telling you more about it.

Picture it

Adjectives are paint for nouns: they add colour, size and feeling.

Key words

adjective
A word that describes a noun: huge, shiny, nervous.
comparative
Compares two things: taller, more careful.
superlative
The most of all: tallest, most careful.

Worked examples

  1. 1Warm-up

    a huge, hairy spider

    • huge and hairy describe the spider.
    • They are adjectives.
  2. 211+ standard

    The sky was grey.

    • Adjectives don't always come before the noun.
    • After was, grey still describes the sky.
  3. 311+ standard

    Mia is taller than Ben, but Leo is the tallest.

    • taller compares two people (comparative).
    • tallest is the most of all (superlative).
  4. 411+ standard

    This puzzle is more difficult than the last one.

    • Longer adjectives use more and most.
    • more difficult, most difficult: never "difficulter".

The common mistake

The mistake

Use more and -er together: "more taller", "most happiest".

Instead

Use one or the other: taller, or more careful.

Why: Short adjectives add -er and -est; longer ones use more and most, never both.

Where it comes up in the 11+

You'll spot adjectives, choose the right comparative or superlative, and pick the most precise adjective in cloze.

The video

Video coming soon

We're making a short video that explains adjectives step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.

Free printable

Adjectives worksheet

Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.

Download the worksheet (PDF)

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Quick quiz

Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.

  1. 1. Which word is an adjective? "The ancient oak creaked loudly."

    • ancient
    • oak
    • creaked
    • loudly
    Show the answer

    ancient

    Ancient describes the oak, a noun.

  2. 2. Which is correct?

    • the most happiest day
    • the happiest day
    • the more happier day
    • the happyest day
    Show the answer

    the happiest day

    Happy changes y to i and adds -est; you don't add most as well.

  3. 3. Which word is a superlative?

    • bigger
    • biggest
    • big
    • large
    Show the answer

    biggest

    -est means the most of all.